Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea to Mozambique and eastward to the Pitcairn Group, north to Southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa.
Size: 5 inches (12 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits reef flats and lagoons and usually found at depths between 3 – 100 feet (1 – 30 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade with this hardy species having a whitish body with several black stripes down its length and a black spot on the caudal peduncle.
Best maintained fish-only aquariums with subdued lighting, yet can also be maintained in reef aquariums, with both having several rocky caves/hiding areas. If maintained with moderately aggressive tankmates, will remain in hiding during daylight hours and may not get its fair share of the food when the aquarium is fed. Even if maintained with peaceful tankmates, will spend a good portion of its time in hiding or very close to its hiding areas.
As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should be enriched and finely chopped and fed several times daily. Depending upon the environment in which its maintained, the best time of the day to feed are early morning and evening hours.
Taxonomy:
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Percoidei
Family: Apogonidae
Subfamily: Apogoninae
Genus: Cheilodipterus
FYI: A real threat to small tankmates, e.g., fishes, shrimp, and small worms/feather dusters, otherwise quite peaceful.
Experience Level: Beginner
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: With caution
Invertebrate Safe: With caution
Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Tankmates: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons
Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)
Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026
pH: 8.0 - 8.5
